DJ Hernandez Enters Plea In Federal UConn Shooting Threat Case

STORRS, CT — The brother of the late former NFL star Aaron Hernandez has entered a plea in a federal case involving shooting threats made to the University of Connecticut.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Dennis John Hernandez, also known in football circles as "DJ Hernandez" and also as "Jonathan Hernandez," waived his right to be indicted and entered a guilty plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to making "interstate threats."

Hernandez, 38, is a Bristol resident. He once played football at UConn. He also made threats to Brown University, records show.

According to case records, on July 6 and 7, 2023, Hernandez, during an exchange with someone via Facebook Messenger made multiple statements threatening to carry out a shooting incident at UConn.

According to case records, the statements included, "I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I'm taking down everything" and "Don’t give a (expletive) who gets caught in the crossfire. I've died for years now and now it's others people turn. I'm prepared to give my life. So if I don’t get to see you on the outside know I love you always Not all shootings are bad I’m realizing. Some are necessary for change to happen."

Case records indicate that Hernandez's vehicle was identified on UConn's campus on July 7.

On July 18 and 19, 2023, Hernandez made multiple Facebook posts threatening to harm or kill three individuals who reside out of state, including a state court judge, according to case records. In addition, on July 19, in a conversation via text message with one of the "victims," Hernandez stated, "We're taking lives if (expletive) isn’t paid up. It’s been years in planning just taking notes, names and locations. They talked their way into this and it’s almost point game. I know we don’t play in my family. If we have to take lives or buildings we will. So just letting you know so you can be prepared for a media circus one way or another."

Hernandez pleaded guilty to transmitting interstate communications containing a threat to injure, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of five years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for Feb 6.

Hernandez has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 19, 2023.